sapient

adjective

ˈsā-pē-ənt How to pronounce sapient (audio)
Definition of sapientnext
as in wise
having or showing deep understanding and intelligent application of knowledge an uncle who is always good for valuable insights and some sapient advice

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How is the word sapient distinct from other similar adjectives?

Some common synonyms of sapient are judicious, prudent, sage, sane, sensible, and wise. While all these words mean "having or showing sound judgment," sapient suggests great sagacity and discernment.

the sapient musings of an old philosopher

When can judicious be used instead of sapient?

The meanings of judicious and sapient largely overlap; however, judicious stresses a capacity for reaching wise decisions or just conclusions.

judicious parents using kindness and discipline in equal measure

When would prudent be a good substitute for sapient?

While the synonyms prudent and sapient are close in meaning, prudent suggests the exercise of restraint guided by sound practical wisdom and discretion.

a prudent decision to wait out the storm

When is it sensible to use sage instead of sapient?

While in some cases nearly identical to sapient, sage suggests wide experience, great learning, and wisdom.

the sage advice of my father

Where would sane be a reasonable alternative to sapient?

In some situations, the words sane and sapient are roughly equivalent. However, sane stresses mental soundness, rationality, and levelheadedness.

remained sane even in times of crises

In what contexts can sensible take the place of sapient?

Although the words sensible and sapient have much in common, sensible applies to action guided and restrained by good sense and rationality.

a sensible woman who was not fooled by flattery

When is wise a more appropriate choice than sapient?

The words wise and sapient can be used in similar contexts, but wise suggests great understanding of people and of situations and unusual discernment and judgment in dealing with them.

wise beyond his tender years

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of sapient Worthington referenced the Na’vi (The People), the sapient humanoids who inhabit the lush moon of Pandora in the films, in his message. —Bruce Haring, Deadline, 7 July 2024 The Past The sapient paradox: With brains like ours, why did prehistoric humans wait millennia to start civilization? —Big Think, 24 June 2024 Which is why mildly sapient readers should be immediately skeptical. —John Tamny, Forbes, 19 Dec. 2022 Many wise and sapient social historians have written on the American cult, and invention, of the weekend. —Adam Gopnik, Town & Country, 29 May 2020 Of course, there is a chance that ours is the only sapient world in a vast and silent cosmos. —David Grinspoon, Scientific American, 1 Sep. 2016
Recent Examples of Synonyms for sapient
  1. wise
  2. prudent
Adjective
  • Either by choice or otherwise, Wolves lost seven players who appeared regularly in the first team last season and brought in six new faces, so numbers-wise, there is little difference.
    — Steve Madeley, New York Times, 15 Sep. 2025
  • The measure further reduces offshore drilling, but the effort to compensate in a region that is highly dependent on the oil industry was a wise move.
    — The Editorial Board, Oc Register, 15 Sep. 2025
Definition of wise
Adjective
  • Some decisions are prudent, such as the Las Vegas Raiders to defeat the New England Patriots at a nice underdog price.
    — Fort Worth Star-Telegram, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 12 Sep. 2025
  • These nations have lowered taxes, reduced the size of the state and generally been fiscally prudent with sustainable debt/GDP levels – and their growth rates reflect these prudent decisions.
    — Alden Abbott, Forbes.com, 11 Sep. 2025
Definition of prudent

Browse Nearby Words

sapience
sapient
sapless
See all Nearby Words

Podcast

Cite this Entry

“Sapient.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sapient. Accessed 17 Sep. 2025.

Copy Citation

Share

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

Using Bullet Points ( • )

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

How to Use Em Dashes (—), En Dashes (–) , and Hyphens (-)

A Guide to Using Semicolons

The Difference Between 'i.e.' and 'e.g.'
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

Great Big List of Beautiful and Useless Words, Vol. 3

Color Words to Describe Autumn Leaves

Our Best Historical Slang Terms

'Za' and 9 Other Words to Help You Win at SCRABBLE

12 Words Whose History Will Surprise You
See More

Popular

See More

Using Bullet Points ( • )

Great Big List of Beautiful and Useless Words, Vol. 3

Color Words to Describe Autumn Leaves
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
high school student holding a pencil leaning over a sat test
Challenging Standardized Test Words 20 questions to help you score 1600
See All